The Bolkonsky family in the novel “War and Peace” is one of the key themes in the study of this work. Its members occupy a central place in the narrative and play a decisive role in the development of the storyline. Therefore, the characteristics of these characters seem especially important for understanding the concept of epic.

Some General Notes

The Bolkonsky family in the novel “War and Peace” is typical for its time, that is, for the beginning of the 19th century. The author depicted people in whose images he tried to convey the state of mind of a significant part of the nobility. When describing these characters, one must first of all remember that these heroes are representatives of the aristocratic class at the turn of the century, a time that was a turning point in the history of Russia. This was clearly shown in the description of the life and everyday life of this ancient family. Their thoughts, ideas, views, worldview and even household habits serve as a clear demonstration of how a significant part of the nobility lived during the time in question.

The image of Nikolai Andreevich in the context of the era

The Bolkonsky family in the novel “War and Peace” is interesting because in it the writer showed how and what a thinking society lived at the beginning of the 19th century. The father of the family is a hereditary military man, and his whole life is subject to a strict routine. In this image one can immediately discern the typical image of an old nobleman from the time of Catherine II. He is a man of the past, the 18th century, rather than the new. You can immediately feel how far he is from the political and social life of his time; it seems that he lives by old orders and habits, which are more appropriate for the era of the previous reign.

About the social activities of Prince Andrei

The Bolkonsky family in the novel “War and Peace” is distinguished by its solidity and unity. All its members are very similar to each other, despite the age difference. However, Prince Andrei is more passionate about modern politics and social life, he even takes part in the project of drawing up government reforms. In him one can very well discern the type of young reformer that was characteristic of the beginning of the reign of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich.

Princess Marya and society ladies

The Bolkonsky family, whose characteristics form the subject of this review, was distinguished by the fact that its members lived an intense mental and moral life. The daughter of the old prince Marya was completely different from the typical society ladies and young women who then appeared in high society. Her father took care of her education and taught her a variety of sciences that were not included in the program for raising young ladies. The latter studied home crafts, fiction, and fine arts, while the princess, under the guidance of her parent, studied mathematics.

Place in society

The Bolkonsky family, whose characteristics are so important for understanding the meaning of the novel, occupied a prominent position in high society. Prince Andrei led a fairly active public life, at least until he became disillusioned with his career as a reformer. He served as Kutuzov's adjutant and took an active part in military operations against the French. He could often be seen at social events, receptions, and balls. However, from his very first appearance in the salon of a famous socialite, the reader immediately understands that he does not belong in this society. He keeps somewhat aloof and is not very talkative, although, apparently, he is an interesting conversationalist. The only person with whom he himself expresses a desire to enter into a conversation is his friend Pierre Bezukhov.

A comparison of the Bolkonsky and Rostov families further highlights the peculiarity of the former. The old prince and his young daughter led a very secluded life and almost never left their estate. Nevertheless, Marya maintained contacts with high society, exchanging letters with her friend Julie.

Characteristics of Andrey's appearance

The description of the Bolkonsky family is also very important for understanding the character of these people. Prince Andrei is described by the writer as a handsome young man of about thirty. He is very attractive, carries himself superbly, and in general is a real aristocrat. However, at the very beginning of his appearance, the author emphasizes that there was something cold, aloof and even callous in his facial features, although it is quite obvious that the prince is not an evil person. However, heavy and gloomy thoughts left their mark on the features of his face: he became gloomy, thoughtful and unfriendly with others, and even with his own wife he behaved extremely arrogantly.

About the princess and the old prince

The description of the Bolkonsky family should be continued with a short portrait of Princess Marya and her stern father. The young girl had a spiritual appearance, as she lived an intense inner and mental life. She was thin and slender, but not beautiful in the generally accepted sense of the word. A secular person, perhaps, would hardly call her a beauty. In addition, the old prince’s serious upbringing left its mark on her: she was thoughtful beyond her age, somewhat withdrawn and concentrated. In a word, she did not at all look like a society lady. The lifestyle that the Bolkonsky family led left its mark on her. Briefly it can be characterized as follows: isolation, severity, restraint in communication.

Her father was a thin man of short stature; he behaved just like a military man. His face was distinguished by severity and severity. He had the appearance of a hardy man, who, moreover, was not only in excellent physical shape, but was also constantly busy with mental work. Such an appearance indicated that Nikolai Andreevich was an extraordinary person in all respects, which was reflected in communication with him. At the same time, he could also be bilious, sarcastic and even somewhat unceremonious. This is evidenced by the scene of his first meeting with Natasha Rostova, when she visited their estate as his son’s bride. The old man was clearly dissatisfied with his son’s choice and therefore gave the young girl a very inhospitable reception, making a couple of witticisms in her presence that deeply hurt her.

Prince and his daughter

Relations in the Bolkonsky family could not be called cordial. This was especially evident in the communication between the old prince and his young daughter. He behaved with her in much the same way as with his son, that is, without any ceremony or discounts for the fact that she was still a girl and needed softer and more gentle treatment. But Nikolai Andreevich, apparently, did not make much difference between her and his son and communicated with both in approximately the same way, that is, sternly and even harshly. He was very demanding of his daughter, controlled her life and even read letters that she received from her friend. In classes with her, he was stern and picky. However, based on the above, it is impossible to say that the prince did not love his daughter. He was very attached to her and appreciated all the best in her, but due to the severity of his character, he could not communicate otherwise, and the princess understood this. She was afraid of her father, but she respected him and obeyed him in everything. She accepted his demands and tried not to contradict anything.

Old Bolkonsky and Prince Andrei

The life of the Bolkonsky family was distinguished by solitude and isolation, which could not but affect the communication of the protagonist with his father. From the outside, their conversations could be called formal and even somewhat official. Their relationship did not seem cordial; rather, the conversations were similar to an exchange of opinions between two very smart people who understand each other. Andrei behaved with his father very respectfully, but somewhat coldly, aloof and stern in his own way. The father, in turn, also did not indulge his son with parental tenderness and caresses, limiting himself to comments of an exclusively business nature. He spoke to him only to the point, deliberately avoiding anything that could affect personal relationships. All the more valuable is the final scene of Prince Andrei’s farewell to the war, when deep love and tenderness for his son breaks through the father’s icy equanimity, which he, however, immediately tried to hide.

Two families in the novel

It is all the more interesting to compare the Bolkonsky and Rostov families. The first led a secluded, secluded lifestyle, were strict, stern, and taciturn. They avoided social entertainment and limited themselves to each other's company. The latter, on the contrary, were sociable, hospitable, cheerful and cheerful. All the more significant is the fact that Nikolai Rostov eventually married Princess Marya, and not Sonya, with whom he was connected by childhood love. They must have failed to better see each other's positive qualities.

The old prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky is an outstanding representative of that mixture of the old Russian nobility with “Voltairianism”, which from the 18th century extended into the 19th. This is one of those strong people for whom the lack of faith in God completely destroyed all obstacles to tyranny. But in his opinion, “there are only two sources of human vices: idleness and superstition,” on the other hand, “there are only two virtues: activity and intelligence.” But the circle of activity was closed for him and, complaining that the opportunity for social work was taken away from him, he could convince himself that he was forcibly forced to indulge in a hated vice - idleness.

With whims he rewarded himself for his, as it seemed to him, completely involuntary idleness. complete scope for whim - this was what activity consisted of for the old prince, this was his favorite virtue, while another virtue - intelligence - turned into embittered, sometimes unfair censure of everything that happened only outside the borders of his completely independent Bald Mountains. In the name of whim, says Tolstoy, for example, the architect of the old prince was allowed to sit at the table. The prince’s embittered and at the same time driven by whimsical mind led him to the conviction that all the current leaders were boys... and that Bonaparte was an insignificant Frenchman, who was successful only because there were no longer Potemkins and Suvorovs... Conquests and new orders in Europe were “insignificant” "Frenchies" seem to the old prince to be something of a personal insult. “They offered other possessions instead of the Duchy of Oldenburg,” said Prince Nikolai Andreich. “It’s like I resettled men from Bald Mountains to Bogucharovo...” When Prince Bolkonsky agrees to his son joining the active army, that is, to his participation “in a puppet comedy,” he agrees to this only conditionally and sees here an exclusively personal service relationship. “...Write how he [Kutuzov] will receive you. If you are good, serve. Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky’s son will not serve anyone out of mercy.” Those same peers of the prince who, without disdaining their connections, reached “high levels”, were not nice to him. When, at the beginning of the winter of 1811, Prince Nikolai Andreevich and his daughter moved to Moscow, there was a noticeable “weakening of enthusiasm for the reign of Emperor Alexander” in society, and thanks to this he became the center of the Moscow opposition to the government. Now, at the end of his days, a wide field of activity opened up before the old prince, or at least an opportunity appeared for what he could take for activity - a wide field for the exercise of his embittered, critical mind. But it was too late to distract him from his inclination towards unlimited power within his family, which had become a habit - that is, over his daughter, who silently submitted to him. He certainly needs Princess Marya, since he can take out his anger on her, he can nag her, and dispose of her at his own discretion. The old prince drove away the thought of the possibility of Princess Marya marrying, knowing in advance that he would respond fairly, and justice contradicted more than a feeling, but the whole possibility of his life. Noting this feature, Tolstoy also pointed out that justice existed in the consciousness of the old prince, but the transition of this consciousness into action was prevented by inflexible authority and habit of the once established conditions of life. “He could not understand that anyone would want to change life, to bring something new into it, when life was already ending for him.” That is why, with malice and hostility, he accepted his son’s intention to remarry. “... I ask you to postpone the matter for a year...” he resolutely declared to his son, obviously counting on the fact that within a year, perhaps, all this would go away on its own, but at the same time he did not limit himself to one such assumption, but To be on the safe side, he gave his son's bride a bad reception. In case, contrary to the will of his father, Prince Andrei still got married, the old man had a “joke thought” and would surprise people with a completely unforeseen change in his life - his own marriage with m-Ile Bourienne, his daughter’s companion. He liked this humorous idea more and more and little by little even began to take on a serious tone. “.. When the barman... according to his old habit... served coffee, starting with the princess, the prince flew into a rage, threw a crutch at Philip and immediately made an order to give him up as a soldier... Princess Marya asked for forgiveness... both for herself and for Philip.” . For herself in that she was, as it were, an obstacle for Mlle Bourienne, for Philip in that he could not guess the thoughts and desires of the prince. The discord between him and his daughter, created by the prince himself, persisted stubbornly. But at the same time, as can be seen, the need for justice has not died out. The old prince wanted to hear from his son that he was not to blame for this discord. Prince Andrei, on the contrary, began to justify his sister: “this Frenchwoman is to blame,” and this was tantamount to blaming his father. “And he awarded! .. awarded! - the old man said in a quiet voice, and, as it seemed to Prince Andrei, with embarrassment, but then suddenly he jumped up and shouted: “Get out, get out!” May your spirit be at ease!” Confusion in this case flowed from consciousness, the cry from a will that did not tolerate any judgment or resistance. Consciousness, however, eventually prevailed, and the old man stopped allowing m-lIe Bouilleppe to come to him, and after his son’s apologetic letter, he completely alienated the Frenchwoman from him. But the imperious will still had its effect, and the unfortunate Princess Marya became the subject of pinning and sawing even more than before. It was during this domestic war that the war of 1812 overtook the old prince. For a long time he never wanted to recognize its real meaning. Only the news of the capture of Smolensk broke the old man’s stubborn mind. He decided to remain on his estate Bald Mountains and defend himself at the head of his militia. But the terrible, so stubbornly unacknowledged moral blow also causes a physical blow. Already in a semi-conscious state, the old man kept asking about his son: “Where is he? “In the army, in Smolensk, they answer him. “Yes,” he said, clearly quietly. - Ruined Russia! Ruined! And he began to sob again. What seems to the prince to be the death of Russia only gives him a new and powerful reason to reproach his personal enemies. A physical shock to the body - a blow - also shakes the old man’s powerful will: her constantly necessary victim - Princess Marya, only here, in the very last minutes of the prince’s life, ceases to be the subject of his sawing. The old man even gratefully takes advantage of her departure and, before his death, seems to ask her for forgiveness.

Bolkonsky family:

To draw conclusions about the Bolkonsky family from Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” you need to get to know each of its members separately, find out their character and habits. So let's begin.

Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky

Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky is the father of the Bolkonsky family, a retired general. Judging by the author's description, he is already an elderly man, although his exact age is not indicated in the novel.

Throughout the work, the hero makes an unpleasant impression, because, although he is very smart and rich, he is very stingy, and some oddities are noticeable in his behavior.

Nikolai Andreevich often takes out his anger on his daughter Marya. Prince Bolkonsky is also unpleasant because he reinforces his waywardness of character, bordering on madness, with disbelief in God. The hero’s position in life is clear from this quote: “He said that there are only two sources of human vices: idleness and superstition, and that there are only two virtues: activity and intelligence.” But where will a mind driven by malice and hatred lead? However, although Prince Bolkonsky seems rude, before his death he realizes the mistakes he made towards his daughter and asks for her forgiveness.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with Helen Kuragina in Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”.

The hero of the novel has two children: daughter Maria and son Andrei, as well as a grandson named Nikolenka. The reader will become acquainted with their images in this article.

Andrei Bolkonsky - son of Prince Nikolai

Unlike his stern father, Andrei has positive qualities, gradually, throughout his life, turning into a mature man. At first proud and tough, over the years he becomes softer and more restrained. In addition, this character has not only willpower, but also a tendency to self-criticism.

It would not be superfluous to mention Andrei Bolkonsky’s attitude towards the peasants, of whom he replaces corvée with quitrent for some, and releases others to become “free cultivators.”

Military service served as a serious reason for changes in the character of the young man. If at the beginning the hero of the novel, going to war with Napoleon, longed to gain recognition and glory, then gradually his attitude towards this issue changes.

He became disillusioned with his former idol Napoleon, and decided to return home and devote himself to his family. However, this was not the last time Bolkonsky had to endure such trials. The year 1812 became fatal for young Andrei, because in the Battle of Borodino he was mortally wounded. Only before leaving for eternity did the hero “experience a consciousness of alienation from everything earthly and a joyful and strange lightness of being.”

Maria Bolkonskaya - daughter of Nikolai

This is a very rich and noble noblewoman. The author describes her as a very ugly face, with a heavy gait, weak in body, however, with beautiful eyes in which love and sadness shone: “the eyes of the princess, large, deep and radiant (as if rays of warm light sometimes came out of them in sheaves), they were so good that very often, despite the ugliness of the whole face, these eyes became more attractive than beauty...”

As for the character of Princess Maria, she was a pure, innocent girl, kind, calm and meek, moreover, smart and educated. Another quality distinguishes the girl: faith in God. She herself admits that religion alone can explain to us what a person cannot understand without its help...”

Marya Bolkonskaya is a woman who is ready to sacrifice personal happiness for the good of another. So, having learned that Mademoiselle Burien (discussed below) is secretly meeting with Anatol Kuragin, she decides to arrange their marriage. Naturally, nothing comes of this, however, such an act only emphasizes the positive qualities of the heroine.

Lisa Bolkonskaya, little princess

Liza Bolkonskaya was the wife of Andrei Bolkonsky, and also the niece of General Kutuzov. She has a pretty face, a very sweet, cheerful, smiling woman, however, Prince Andrei is unhappy with her, although in public he calls her beautiful. Maybe the reason lies in the fact that Lisa loves “stupid secular society,” to which Bolkonsky has antipathy, or maybe his feelings for his young wife have not awakened, but one thing is clear: his wife is irritating Andrei more and more.

Unfortunately, Princess Lisa never had the chance to experience the happiness of motherhood: during her first birth, to her husband’s despair, she died. Nikolenka's son was left half orphaned.

Nikolenka Bolkonsky

He was born in 1806. Unfortunately, his mother died during childbirth, so the boy “lived with his wet nurse and nanny Savishna in the half of the late princess, and Princess Marya spent most of the day in the nursery, replacing, as best she could, a mother for her little nephew...”

Princess Marya raises the child as her own, becoming attached to him with all her soul. She herself teaches the boy music and the Russian language, and in other subjects they hire a tutor for him named Monsieur Desalles from Switzerland. The poor boy, at the age of seven, went through a difficult ordeal, because his father died before his eyes.

After a break in the description, you can meet Nikolenka again on the pages of the novel. Now he is already a fifteen-year-old teenager, “...A curly-haired, sickly boy, with his sparkling eyes, sat unnoticed by anyone in the corner, and, only turning his curly head on a thin neck emerging from his turn-down collars...”

Although Nikolai eventually forgets the image of his own father, he always remembers him with sadness and delight. His best friend is Pierre Bezukhov, to whom he is especially attached.

Princess Marya is still worried about her grown-up nephew, because he is very fearful and timid, still sleeps with a lamp and shies away from society.

Mademoiselle Bourrien

Mademoiselle Burien, a French orphan, who was picked up out of pity by Nikolai Bolkonsky, was the companion of Andrei Bolkonsky's wife, Lisa. She loved the little princess, slept in the same room with her, and listened when she poured out her soul. But that was the case for the time being.
More than once throughout the novel, Mademoiselle Burien showed her negative qualities. Firstly, when she began to brazenly flirt with Anatole, who, although he showed her signs of attention, was still Maria Bolkonskaya’s fiancé. Secondly, when during the war with Napoleon she went over to the side of the enemy, which aroused the wrath of the little princess, who no longer allowed her former companion to approach her.

Relationships between members of the Bolkonsky family

The complex and sometimes confusing relationships of the Bolkonsky family members occupy their special place in Leo Tolstoy’s story. The life of three generations is reflected here: the senior prince Nikolai Andreevich, his son Andrei and daughter Maria, as well as grandson Nikolenka. Each has their own character, habits, and outlook on life, but these people are united by an ardent love for the Motherland, closeness to the people, patriotism, and a sense of duty. Even Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky, who at first glance seems to be a rude person, before moving on to another world, begins to ask for forgiveness from his daughter Marya, whom he put pressure on during his life.

The Bolkonsky family is characterized by activity and activity, and isn’t this character trait that became key in the creation of their images? The thoughtful reader himself will try to explore such a difficult but interesting question. And, of course, draw the appropriate conclusions for yourself.

He managed not only to diversify the literary world with a new work that is original from the point of view of genre composition, but also came up with bright and colorful characters. Of course, not all regulars at bookstores have read the writer’s bulky novel from cover to cover, but most know who Andrei Bolkonsky and Andrei Bolkonsky are.

History of creation

In 1856, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy began work on his immortal work. Then the master of words thought about creating a story that would tell readers about the Decembrist hero, forced to return back to the Russian Empire. The writer unwittingly moved the scene of the novel to 1825, but by that time the protagonist was a family-owned and mature man. When Lev Nikolaevich thought about the hero’s youth, this time involuntarily coincided with 1812.

1812 was not an easy year for the country. The Patriotic War began because the Russian Empire refused to support the continental blockade, which Napoleon saw as the main weapon against Great Britain. Tolstoy was inspired by those troubled times, and besides, his relatives participated in these historical events.

Therefore, in 1863, the writer began working on a novel that reflected the fate of the entire Russian people. In order not to be unfounded, Lev Nikolaevich relied on the scientific works of Alexander Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Modest Bogdanovich, Mikhail Shcherbinin and other memoirists and writers. They say that in order to find inspiration, the writer even visited the village of Borodino, where the army and the Russian commander-in-chief clashed.

Tolstoy worked tirelessly for seven years on his fundamental work, writing five thousand draft sheets and creating 550 characters. And this is not surprising, because the work is endowed with a philosophical character, which is shown through the prism of the life of the Russian people in an era of failures and defeats.

“How happy I am... that I will never write verbose rubbish like “War” again.”

No matter how critical Tolstoy was, the epic novel War and Peace, published in 1865 (the first excerpt appeared in the Russian Messenger magazine), was a widespread success among the public. The work of the Russian writer amazed both domestic and foreign critics, and the novel itself was recognized as the greatest epic work of new European literature.

Collage illustration for the novel “War and Peace”

The literary diaspora noted not only the exciting plot, which is intertwined in both “peaceful” and “war” times, but also the size of the fictional canvas. Despite the large number of characters, Tolstoy tried to give each hero individual character traits.

Characteristics of Andrei Bolkonsky

Andrei Bolkonsky is the main character in Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. It is known that many characters in this work have a real prototype, for example, the writer “created” Natasha Rostova from his wife Sofia Andreevna and her sister Tatyana Bers. But the image of Andrei Bolkonsky is collective. Among possible prototypes, researchers name Nikolai Alekseevich Tuchkov, lieutenant general of the Russian army, as well as staff captain of the engineering troops Fyodor Ivanovich Tizenhausen.

It is noteworthy that the writer initially planned Andrei Bolkonsky as a minor character, who later received individual traits and became the main character of the work. In the first drafts of Lev Nikolayevich Bolkonsky was a secular young man, while in subsequent editions of the novel the prince appears before readers as a male intellectual with an analytical mind, who sets an example of courage and courage for fans of literature.

Moreover, readers can trace from and to the formation of the personality and the change in the character of the hero. Researchers classify Bolkonsky as one of the spiritual aristocracy: this young man is building a career, leading a social life, but he cannot be indifferent to the problems of society.

Andrei Bolkonsky appears before readers as a handsome young man of small stature and with dry features. He hates secular hypocritical society, but comes to balls and other events for the sake of decency:

“He apparently not only knew everyone in the living room, but was so tired of them that he found it very boring to look at them and listen to them.”

Bolkonsky is indifferent to his wife Lisa, but when she dies, the young man blames himself for being cold to his wife and not paying her due attention. It is worth noting that Lev Nikolaevich, who knows how to identify man with nature, reveals the personality of Andrei Bolkonsky in the episode where the character sees a huge dilapidated oak tree on the edge of the road - this tree is a symbolic image of the internal state of Prince Andrei.

Among other things, Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy endowed this hero with opposite qualities; he combines courage and cowardice: Bolkonsky participates in a bloody battle on the battlefield, but in the literal sense of the word he is running from an unsuccessful marriage and a failed life. The protagonist either loses the meaning of life, then again hopes for the best, building goals and means to achieve them.

Andrei Nikolaevich revered Napoleon, he also wanted to become famous and lead his army to victory, but fate made its own adjustments: the hero of the work was wounded in the head and taken to the hospital. Later, the prince realized that happiness does not lie in triumph and laurels of honor, but in children and family life. But, unfortunately, Bolkonsky is doomed to failure: not only the death of his wife awaits him, but also the betrayal of Natasha Rostova.

"War and Peace"

The action of the novel, which tells about friendship and betrayal, begins at a visit to Anna Pavlovna Scherer, where the entire high society of St. Petersburg gathers to discuss politics and Napoleon’s role in the war. Lev Nikolaevich personified this immoral and deceitful salon with the “Famus society”, which was brilliantly described by Alexander Griboedov in his work “Woe from Wit” (1825). It is in Anna Pavlovna’s salon that Andrei Nikolaevich appears before readers.

After dinner and idle talk, Andrei goes to the village to visit his father and leaves his pregnant wife Lisa at the family estate Bald Mountains in the care of his sister Marya. In 1805, Andrei Nikolaevich went to war against Napoleon, where he acted as Kutuzov’s adjutant. During the bloody battles, the hero was wounded in the head, after which he was taken to the hospital.

Upon returning home, Prince Andrei received unpleasant news: his wife Lisa died during childbirth. Bolkonsky plunged into depression. The young man was tormented by the fact that he treated his wife coldly and did not show her due respect. Then Prince Andrei fell in love again, which helped him get rid of his bad mood.

This time, Natasha Rostova became the young man’s chosen one. Bolkonsky proposed marriage to the girl, but since his father was against such a misalliance, the marriage had to be postponed for a year. Natasha, who could not live alone, made a mistake and began an affair with a lover of wild life, Anatoly Kuragin.

The heroine sent Bolkonsky a letter of refusal. This turn of events wounded Andrei Nikolaevich, who dreams of challenging his opponent to a duel. To distract himself from unrequited love and emotional distress, the prince began to work hard and devoted himself to service. In 1812, Bolkonsky took part in the war against Napoleon and was wounded in the stomach during the Battle of Borodino.

Meanwhile, the Rostov family moved to their Moscow estate, where the war participants are located. Among the wounded soldiers, Natasha Rostova saw Prince Andrei and realized that love had not faded in her heart. Unfortunately, Bolkonsky’s poor health was incompatible with life, so the prince died in the arms of the astonished Natasha and Princess Marya.

Film adaptations and actors

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy’s novel has been filmed more than once by famous directors: the work of the Russian writer has been adapted for avid film fans even in Hollywood. Indeed, the number of films based on this book cannot be counted on one hand, so we will list only a few films.

"War and Peace" (film, 1956)

In 1956, director King Vidor brought Leo Tolstoy's work to television screens. The film differs little from the original novel. No wonder the original script was 506 pages, which is five times the size of the average text. Filming took place in Italy, with some episodes filmed in Rome, Felonica and Pinerolo.

The brilliant cast includes recognized Hollywood stars. She played Natasha Rostova, Henry Fonda played Pierre Bezukhov, and Mel Ferrer played the role of Bolkonsky.

"War and Peace" (film, 1967)

Russian filmmakers have not lagged behind their foreign colleagues, who amaze viewers not only with the “picture”, but also with the scope of their budget. The director worked for six years on the highest-budget film in the history of Soviet cinema.

In the film, film fans see not only the plot and acting, but also the director’s know-how: Sergei Bondarchuk used panoramic battles, which were new for that time. The role of Andrei Bolkonsky went to the actor. Kira Golovko and others also played in the film.

"War and Peace" (TV series, 2007)

German director Robert Dornhelm also took up the film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's work, peppering the film with original storylines. Moreover, Robert departed from the canons in terms of the appearance of the main characters, for example, Natasha Rostova () appears before the audience as a blonde with blue eyes.

The image of Andrei Bolkonsky went to the Italian actor Alessio Boni, who is remembered by film fans for the films “Robbery” (1993), “After the Storm” (1995), “” (2002) and other films.

"War and Peace" (TV series, 2016)

According to The Guardian, residents of Foggy Albion began buying the original manuscripts of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy after this series, filmed by director Tom Harperm.

The six-episode adaptation of the novel shows viewers love relationships, devoting almost no time to military events. He played the role of Andrei Bolkonsky, sharing the set with and.

• Lev Nikolaevich did not consider his cumbersome work finished and believed that the novel “War and Peace” should end with a different scene. However, the author never brought his idea to life.
• In (1956), costume designers used more than one hundred thousand sets of military uniforms, costumes and wigs, which were made from original illustrations from the time of Napoleon Bonaparte.

• The novel “War and Peace” traces the author’s philosophical views and pieces from his biography. The writer did not like Moscow society and had mental vices. When his wife did not fulfill all his whims, according to rumors, Lev Nikolaevich walked “to the left.” Therefore, it is not surprising that his characters, like any mortals, have negative traits.
• King Vidor's film did not gain fame among the European public, but it gained unprecedented popularity in the Soviet Union.

Quotes

“The battle is won by the one who is determined to win it!”

“I remember,” Prince Andrei hastily answered, “I said that a fallen woman must be forgiven, but I did not say that I can forgive. I can't".

"Love? What is love? Love prevents death. Love is life. Everything, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists only because I love. Everything is connected by one thing. Love is God, and to die means for me, a particle of love, to return to the common and eternal source.”

“Let’s leave the dead to bury the dead, but while you’re alive, you must live and be happy.”

“There are only two sources of human vices: idleness and superstition, and there are only two virtues: activity and intelligence.”

“No, life is not over at 31, suddenly it’s finally over,” Prince Andrei certainly decided. - Not only do I know everything that is in me, it is necessary for everyone to know it: both Pierre and this girl who wanted to fly into the sky, it is necessary for everyone to know me, so that my life is not just for me. life, so that they don’t live so independently of my life, so that it affects everyone, and so that they all live with me!”

The figure of Prince Andrei is one of the most controversial in the novel. The hero’s self-awareness and worldview go through a long and complex evolutionary path throughout the entire work. The character's values ​​change, as well as his idea of ​​family, love, war and peace.

For the first time, the reader meets the prince surrounded by people from secular society and a young pregnant wife who fits perfectly into this circle. The clearest contrast is between Andrei and Lisa: she is soft, round, open and friendly, he is prickly, angular, withdrawn and somewhat arrogant. She prefers the noise of social salons, and he is close only to the thunder of military operations; in peacetime, Bolkonsky would choose village silence and solitude. They are too different and are doomed to a complete misunderstanding of each other's worldviews. The little princess is alien to Andrei’s tossing and turning, his thorny path of finding himself, and he, fixated on introspection, notices only the external lightness of his wife’s character, which he mistakenly interprets as the emptiness of the inner world. The hero does not know what to do with his young family; he is too vague about the responsibilities of a husband and father and does not want to understand them. The example given to him by his parent also cannot positively influence the situation. Nikolai Bolkonsky raises his children in strictness; he is stingy with communication and, even more so, with affection.

Andrei Bolkonsky is very similar to his father. Perhaps that is why he has such a strong desire for military glory. He better understands the realities of war, feels needed and applicable in this area, and therefore strives in every possible way to protect himself from the environment of an inactive, eternally idle world. He hurries to the front, leaving his family behind, like some kind of ballast holding him back on the way to the heights looming before him. Prince Andrei still realizes what he has deprived himself of, but it will be too late. The death of his wife will make him take a new look at the people around him. Bolkonsky will feel guilty before the little princess for the inattention that he always bestowed on her. He will try to build his relationship differently with his father, sister, and later with his growing son.

Many significant events will happen in the life of this person, which will one way or another influence his worldview. Even before the tragic death of Princess Lisa, the “immeasurably high” sky of Austerlitz appears to Andrey. This will be Bolkonsky's first meeting with death. He will see the world around him as quiet and calm, the way the prince’s relatives and friends accept and love him. He will feel happy.

His soul will never calm down, and will forever demand something unattainable. He would feel in his element again when he returned to the front, but by then his days would be numbered. Having received a mortal wound in the Battle of Borodino, Andrei Bolkonsky will end his journey in the arms of Natasha Rostova and Princess Marya.